Method of and apparatus for building an air spring bellows



Oct. 30,` 1.962 c. o. sLr-:MMoNs ETAL 3,051,499

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 ll1 Sheets-Sheet 1 EEE j /JVN'TORS- Charles 0'. ',Slemmons Stephen C'. Sabo Walter Baranec m/Mfw METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLows Filed Nov. 7, 1957 Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLl-:MMoNs ETAL 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORS summons Charles l0.

Ste'fken =CSabo Walter Baraneclgr BY Odi 30; 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 3,061,499

'METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 i l l t t l n I l l r,

, INVENToRs Charles 0.v SLe mmons Stephen C. Sabo im m fm a T BMA r l f n wm Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 3,051,499

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I' |:l I "I III :i Ill Il I l I I |I I I l Il Y. l l I Il II I l I I I I I l II I Il.I l Il a n" I Charles 0. Slemnwns ww N! .5I ww m #A ww Nw ww www 'if n INVENTORS nec v- ATTORNEYS Walter Bara Stephen C'. Sabo hun. Y wk Nw w ww ww w www ww d ww w n II r Il" Il I ll kwww ww Nw wwww Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 3,061,499

l METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 1l Sheets-Sheet 5 OCL 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs l-:TAL 3,061,499

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed NOV. 7, 1957 1l Sheets-Sheet 6 mvsmons @NK QS s f. nona S MMM. n mam e. T manmrm 5m she .kpn/7 waa@ m.WSWS

3,061,499 METHOD oF AND APPARATUS PoR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLows Filed Nov. 7, 1957 Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 lNvENToRs Charles 0. Sl'emv'nans Stephen C. Sabo M /lter Baranec I BVM zu fgwrw ATTORNEYS Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL A 3,051,499

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 l 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 /55 ,f /za b C52 55 "9\ .fj-J

*q INVENTORS Charles 0. Slemmons Stephen C. Sabo 54 I 56 l 1:1'7. 31 Walter 'Barauechly AToRNEYs Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLr-:MMoNs ETAL 3,051,499

METHOD OFAND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS INVENTORS Charles 0. Slemrrvons Stephen C Sabo Walter Baranecky Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 3,061,499

METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS 11 Sheets-Sheet. lo

Filed N0v 7, 1957 INVENTORS Charles 0. Slemmons Stephen, C. 'Sabo Walter Bar-ae 'E' ATTRNEYs Oct. 30, 1962 c. o. sLEMMoNs ETAL 3,061,499

METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING AN AIR SPRING BELLOWS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 NVENTORS Charles 0. slemmons Stephen 'Sabo Walter Baranec ATTORNEYS United States Patent O Ohio Filed Nov. 7, 1957, Ser. No. 695,096 17 Claims. (Cl. 156-194) This invention relates to the manufacture of an annular rubber and -fabric bellows having a thin ilexible substan- -tially cylindrical fabric and rubber body with inturned top and bottom portions having inextensible beads that surround central top and bottom openings and that are adapted to be clamped to the relatively movable elements between which the spring is interposed.

In building such an air spring bellows by the method of the present invention a substantially cylindrical rubber` and fabric tube such as shown in FIG. 33 or FIG. 42 is built upon a generally cylindrical form such as shown in FIG. 15 by applying to the form successive layers of uncured natural or synthetic rubber and fabric. The form is supported at one end for rotation about its axisto facilitate the application of successive layers of rubber and fabric thereto to form a laminated tube' thereon. After a laminated, generally cylindrical tube is built on the form, an inextensible bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the tube is passed over the tube yfrom the free end of the form and is held in a position surrounding the form and the end portion of the tube adjacent the supported end of the form as shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 41. While the bead Iring is so held the end portion of the tube surrounded by the ring is expanded by radial outward pressure applied simultaneously throughout the circumference of the tube against the interior of the ring and the tube end is simultaneously extended to a diameter greater than that of the ring, as shown in FIG. 25 or FIG, 42. While the: bead ring and the tube are held against axial movement, the expanded tube is subjected throughout its circumference to an increased radial pressure and to an axial thrust that cuffs it over the exterior of the bead ring as shown in FIG. 26. Radial inward pressure is then applied to the cuffed end oi the tube throughout its circumference to compress the cuied tube end into gripping engagement with the bead ring to hold the ring against displacement. The'culfed end is then contracted against the outer face of the tube inwardly of the bead ring to completely enclose the bead ring as shown in FIG. 27.`

The expansion and contraction of the end portion of the tube is preferably accomplished by the application of fluid under pressure to the tube end and the uid pressure is applied by means of an inflatable air bag of elastic rubber which has an end portion of generally cylindrical shape which forms par-t or all of the exterior face of the building form.

The second bead ring is preferably of a diameterless than the external diameter of the tube and is applied to the tube at the free end of the form. The tube is built on the form with one end projecting past the free end of the form, as shown in FIG, 15 or FIG. y37 and this projecting end is contracted to a diameter less than that of the form, as shown in FIG. 17 or FiG. 39, to provide an end portion of the tube overlying the free end of the form. The contracting of the tube end over the free end of the form may readily be done by applying pressure manually or mechanically to the projecting tube end.

During the application of the larger bead ring, the contracted end of the tube is pressed axially against the free end of the form and holds vthe tube'against the end of the form during the application of the larger bead ring to the opposite end of the tube as sho-wn in FIG. 18,

thus providing" additional means for holding the tube against axial movement on the form while the larger bead,

ring is being applied. The contracted tube end'is `expanded and cuffed over the smaller bead ring either after the application of the larger bead ring as shown in FIGS. 28 to 3l, or before as shown in FIG. 41. The second cuing operation is also preferably accomplished by application of iluid pressure to the tube end projecting. past the smaller bead ring. l For culling the smaller tube end over the smaller bead ring, a second normally cylindrical eiastic rubber air bag of smaller diameter than the cylindri, cal form is expanded within the contracted end of the tube to expand said end against the interior of the bead ring and to expand the tube end to a diameter greater than that of the ring to press the ring against the end of the form. Each air bag has a portion positioned 'beyond an end of the tube during the culling operation which is expanded to a diameter greater than that of the tube end with which it engages and, in order to increase the radial outward pressure on the tube end and apply an axial pressure thereto to cuff the adjacent tube end overvthe ring thereon, the expanded portion of the air bag beyond the end of the tube is engaged by` an axially movable confining annulus that is pressed against the air bag to move the portion engaged by the annulus axially toward the tube end, thereby increasing the air pressure within the bag to further expand the tube end and to then force the tube axially over the exterior of the form to cuff the tube end over the adjacent bead ring and Stitch it to the exterior face of the tube inwardly'ofvthe bead ring. After the beads have been applied to the tube, the tube is removed from the form and is expanded to the desired shape within a vulcanizing mold in substantially the same way that adrurn built tire casing is expanded within a vulcanizing mold. i

The invention has -for an important object to provide a method by which air spring bellows of the type 'C161 scribed may be rapidly built.

it is also an important object of the invention to provide a bellows building machine which can be quickly and easily adapted to the building of bellows of widely different sizes and shapes.

Reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings` for-ming a part of this specification, in which:

vFIGURE l is a top plan view of an air spring bellows building machine embodying the invention; t

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine; 50 f FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on thel line indicated at 3 3 in FIG. 2 and showing the turret that carries the parts of the machine which successively coact with the building form; v

FIG. -4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line indicated at 4-4' in FIG. 3 showingthe turret lock;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section showing the turret ratchet and brake;

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line indicatedat 6 6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal, horizontal section through the. hollow building cylinder supporting shaft taken on the line indicated at 7-7 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 isa longitudinal horizontal section through the building form taken on the line indicated at 8 -8 int FIG. 2; j

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the free end of the building form, showing the tube expanding air bag that telescopes withiny 70 the building form;

Y FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the tube support on the turret with the tube that forms the` Patented Oct. 30, 1962 interior of the air spring bellows thereon in axial alinement with the building form;

FIG. l1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the building form with the rubber tube in place thereon;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a servicer conveyor that delivers fabric and rubber sheets to the building form, the position of the conveyor belt for delivering the fabric and rubber sheets to the cylindrical form being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 13 is a top plan View of the conveyor belt viewed a's indicated at 13--13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of two bias cut cord fabric plies as they are applied to the feed belt for winding on the cylinder;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the building form with a laminated rubber and fabric tube in place thereon, an end portion of the tube which projects beyond the free end of the form being broken away to show the layers of fabric and rubber;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section on an enlarged scale showing the portion of the tube that is broken away in FIG. l;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the projecting end of the rubber and fabric tube crimped inwardly over the free end of the building form;

FIG. A18 is a longitudinal section showing the bead supporting and positioning sleeve advanced to a position surrounding the laminated tube on the building form;

FIG. l19 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at 19--19 in FIG. 18 and showing the small bead ring support in end elevation;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary elevation showing two of the spaced pusher segments of the small bead ring support and the intermediate flexible bead ring supporting finger, viewed as indicated at 20-20 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 2l is a fragmentary view showing the bead retaining spring in side elevation;

FIG. 22 is a vertical section taken on the line indicated at 22-22 in FIG. 18, showing the large bead ring support in end elevation;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the thrust fingers of the large bead ring support viewed as indicated at 23-23 in FIG. 18;

FIG. 24 is a side elevation of the outer end of one of the bead engaging thrust lingers;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary side elevation of the building form showing one of the tube cuillng air bags inflated to expand the portion of the laminated tube adjacent the supported end of the form;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the air bag inflated and pressed toward the building form to a position overlying the larger bead ring and the adjacent portion of the tube to complete the culling operation;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the air bag engaging the tube end that is folded back over the larger bead ring;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary side elevation of the building form showing the air bag at the free end of the building form expanded within the end portion of the tube Vthat projejcts beyond the building form to position the smaller bead ring against the portion of the tube overlying the end of the building form;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the bag confining cone engaged with the inflated folding tube at the free end of the building form;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the bag confining cone in its fully advanced position where the inflatable tube is forced back over the free end of the building form to complete the culling operation;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the cone, the air bag, the free end portion of the Abuilding form and the laminated tube;

FIG. 32 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid pressure connections for inflating the air bags and operating i the fluid pressure cylinders which actuate various parts of the machine;

FIG. 33 is a side elevation of the tubular air spring bellows blank that is formed on the building machine;

FIG. 34 is a side elevation of the completed bellows;

FIG. 35 is a transverse section through one of the bellows bead rings;

FIG. 36 is a sectional view showing an air spring of which the bellows forms a part;

FIGS. 37 to 42 show the method of making a modilied form of air spring bellows, utilizing the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a side elevation of the building form with a laminated tube that has been built thereon;

FIG. 38 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through an end of the laminated tube showing the same on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 39 is a fragmentary detail view showing the projecting end of the tube contracted to a smaller diarneter to provide a shoulder overlying the end of the building form.

FIG. 40 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the small bead ring support positioned to hold the bead ring against the tube shoulder;

FIG. 4l is a fragmentary side elevation showing the air bag confining cone in tube cutiing position and having the large bead ring carrier attached thereto and in bead ring placing position; and

FIG. 42 is a side elevation showing the tube expanded by the main air bag into engagement with the interior of the large bead ring.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bellows building machine of the present invention has a supporting frame comprising a base 1 and spaced supporting stands 2 and 3. Supported on the stand 2 and positioned in the space between the stands 2 and 3, there is a horizontally disposed bellows building form 4 carried by a rotatable shaft 5 journaled in the stand 2 and driven by a suitable motor 6. The stand 3 supports a turret 7 that is carried by a horizontal shaft 8 journaled in a longitudinally movable slide 9 mounted on the stand 3, the slide 9 being mounted for longitudinal travel on rods 10 and 10a carried by the stand 3 rand extending longitudinally of the frame. The shaft 8 carries a vertical supporting plate 11 which carries on the side facing the form 4 three units 12, 13 and 14 which are adapted to be brought successively into axial alinement with the building form 4 by turning the shaft 8. The unit 12 serves to support a band or sleeve for transfer to the form` 4. The unit 13 is a bead placing unit which cooperates with members carried by the building form in the placing and setting of inextensible beads at the ends of a laminated tube built on the form 4. The unit 14 cooperates with elements carried by the building form to cuff the tube end at the free end of the form over a bead ring.

The three units, 12, 13 and 14 are equiangularly spaced and turning movement is imparted to the shaft 8 to index the units with respect to the building form by suitable driving means which, as herein shown, comprises a gear 1S rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 and carrying the pawl 16 that engages with a ratchet 17 fixed to the shaft 8. A rack 18 meshes with the gear 15 and is attached to the pis ton 19 of a cylinder 20 as best shown in FIG. 3. During movement of the rack 18 in a downward direction, the shaft 8 is driven through the pawl 16 and ratchet 17 and during movement of the rack in an upward direction the pawl 16 rides over the teeth of the ratchet. The stroke of the rack 18 is of a length to impart a turning movement of tothe shaft 8 upon each actuation and, in order to insure accurate alinement of each of the units carried by the turret plate 11 with the building form, a lock pin 21 actuated by a fluid pressure cylinder 22 engages in apertures 23 in the plate 11 which are positioned to hold the plate in each of the three positions where one of the units is alined with the building form.

The piston 19 of the cylinder 20 is normally held in its uppermost position as shown in FIG. 3 and means is provided for automatically ret-.zrning the piston 19 to this position after each indexing operation. This is accomplished 'by means of three equiangularly spaced trip arms 24 attached to the turret plate 11 and engageable with a limit switch 25 upon the completion of each downw-ard stroke of the piston 19, the switch 25 serving to reverse the pressure in the cylinder 20 as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft S is provided with a spring actuated friction brake 26 which maintains sufficient resistance to rotation of the shaft 8 to prevent overrunning. The turret slide 9 is moved toward or away from the building form 4 by means of a fluid pressure cylinder 27.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the form supporting shaft 5 is a tubular shaft which has an outwardly projecting circumferential flange 28 at its inner end to which a tubular head 29 providing a support for the building form 4 is attached. A Huid pressure cylinder 30 is attached to the outer end of the tubular shaft 5 and rotates therewith. The cylinder 30 has an axially movable piston 31 to which is attached a tubular piston rod 32 which extends through a head 33 at the inner end of the cylinder and longitudinally through the tubular shaft 5 to nea'r the inner end thereof, the tubular rod 32 being of an internal diameter less than the internal diameter of the shaft 5 to provide an annular space within the shaft 5 through which fluid under pressure may be conducted.

The cylinder head 30 has an outer head 34 which rotates within a xed sleeve 3S and which has spaced external grooves 36, 37 and 3S within the sleeve 35. Conduits 39, 40 and 41 attached to the fixed sleeve 35 deliver fluid under pressure to the grooves 36, 37 and 33. The groove 36 is connected by a passage 42 in the head 34 to a tube 43 iixed to the head 34 and telescopically tting within the tubular piston rod 32 so that fluid under pressure can be delivered from the conduit 39' through the tubular piston rod 32. Passages 44 and 45 connect the grooves 37 and 38 with the outer and inner ends of the cylinder 30' to actuate the piston 31 and piston rod 32.

i A non-rotatable sleeve 46 surrounds the tubular shaft 5 inwardly of the cylinder 30 and is provided with an internal groove 47 that communicates through one or more openings 48 in the shaft 5 with the annular space between the piston rod 32`and the tubular shaft 5. A pressure supply conduit 49 is connected to the sleeve 46 to deliver fluid under pressure to the interior of the shaft S through the groove 47 and openings 48. y A As best shown in FIG. ,8, the building form 4 has a rigid body formed by a substantially cylindrical tube 50 that is slidably mounted in a sleeve 51 carriedy by the head 52 adjacent its inner end. An elastic rubber air bag 52 is attached at its inner end to the inner end of the tube 50 and throughout the major portion of its length the tube 52 is of cylindrical form and of a normal diameter the same or somewhat less than the external diameter of the tube 50 so that it closely fits the exterior of the tube 50 inwardly of the head 29.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the air bag 52 has an inextensible bead 53 of reduced diameter that is clamped to the outer end ofthe tube by means of a sleeve 54 that isY screwed into the outer end of the tube 50 and that has an outwardly projecting circumferential flange 55 that engages a clamping ring 56 that overlies the bead 53 and that has a beveled face 57 that engages the tube shoulder outwardly of the bead 53. The air bag 52 has an enlarged inner end 58 that engages with the conical inner end face 59 of the head 29.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the air bag 52 has a bead 60 that is clamped to Ia cufiing sleeve designated generally by the numeral 611 that is mounted for axial sliding movement on the head 29. The cuing sleeve 61 includes inner and outer bead clamping sleeves 62 and 63 and an axially adjustable air bag confining sleeve 64 that surrounds the enlarged end 58 of the air bag 52. The inner clamping sleeve 62 has a shoulder 65 behind which the bead 60 of the air bag is received and the outer clamping sleeve 63 has an interiorly beveled shoulder 66 which presses the bead 6i) against the shoulder 65. The outer sleeve 63 is pressed into clamping engagement with the bead 60 by means of an adjusting nut 67 screwed on the outer end of the inner sleeve 62 and engaging the outer end of the sleeve 63. The confining sleeve 64 is mounted for axial adjustment on the sleeve 63 by means of bolts 63 screwed into the sleeve 63 and extending through axiall slots 69 in the sleeve 64.

The culling sleeve 61 is mounted for axial movement on the head 29, the sleeve 63 being provided with a circumferential channel 70 engaged by a shifter 71 that is actuated by a fluid pressure cylinder 72. A key 73 carried by the inner sleeve 62 engages a keyway 74 in the head 29 to cause the cuing sleeve to rotate with the shaft 5 and head 29.

Means is provided for conducting air under pressure to the interior of the air bag 52 from the conduit 49 delivering into the hollow shaft 5. The hollow shaft 5 opens into the head 29 and delivers air under pressure to the air bag S2 through the annular space between the tube Si! and the head 29 and openings 75 through the conical face 59 of the head 29.

The tubular piston rod 32 terminates adjacent the innerA end of the shaft 5 and has a detachable tubular extension 76 detachably secured thereto which extends through the tube 56. The extension 76 is slidably mounted in a head 77 secured to the end of the tube 50 within the head 29 and provides support for an air bag '78 that is normally of cylindrical shape and of a size to telescope within the tube 50. t

As best shown in FIG. 9,the inner end ofV the air-bag 78 has Ia bead 79 'of a diameter to fit on the innerA end portion 80 o the tubular piston rod extension 76 which is of reduced diameter. The bead 79 is clamped between a washer 61 engaging a shoulder S2 on the tubular Aextension 76 and an internally conical collar 83 on the reduced end Si), the collar 83 being held in clamping engagement with the bead by the head 84 which is screwed upon the inner end of the extension 76. The outer end of the lair bag 78 is attached to a piston 8.5 that slidably iits within the tube Si) and on the extension 76. The piston l85 hasy an inner sleeve 86 that slidably tits onthe tubular extension 76 and that is provided with an external groove `87 to receivega bead 3S formed on the outer end of the bag 78. The bead 88 is held in the groove 87 by an internally conical llang'e 89 formed on the outer member 9132 of the piston 85, the member 901being clamped against a shoulder 91 on the sleeve S6 by means of la nut 92. A compression coil spring 93 interposed between the washer 81.1 and the sleeve S6 exerts a pressure on the piston $5 to maintain a tension on'the tubular air bag 78 to hold it extended so that it can be readily telescoped within the tube 50. p

As showing in FIG. 6, the band supporting unit 12 carried on the plate 11 is in the form of a rod 94. The unit 12 provides support for a tube a of uncured rubber that forms the inner surface of the air spring bellows,

the tube a being movable axially from the support12 ontol the building form 4 when the turret is advanced to posi-v tion the end of the rod 12 adjacent the end of the form 4. The `rubber tube is in the form of extruded tubing cut to length and, as shown in yFIG. 6, the rod 94 is pro,- vided with an inflatable air bag 96 to enable the operator to smooth out any wrinkles which may be present in the rubber tube links placed on the holder before trans-v ferring the tube to the building form. The air-under pressure for inllating the bag 96 is supplied through a passage in the rod 94 by a tube 97 connectingthe rod 94 to a passage 98 in the shaft S. The air is introduced into the passage 9S through a iixed collar 99 engaging vthe outer end of the shaft 8, the collar 99 being connected to an air pressure conduit 100.

The tube a is placed on the form 4, a portion thereof projecting past the inner free end of the form as shown in FIG. l1, and, after the tube a is in place on the building form 4, plies b of cord fabric and an outer sheet c of rubber shown in FIG. l2 are wound about the tube a on the building form 4. For applying the additional fabric and rubber plies to the tube a, an endless servicer conveyor belt 101 is provided which is mounted for endwise movement into and out of feeding position with respect to the form 4. The belt 101 is mounted to travel over end pulleys 102 and is provided with a backing roller 103 which is brought to a position beneath the cylindrical form 4 to press the belt against the form 4 when the belt 101 is moved to feeding position. The plies of cord fabric b, the rubber sheets c and a strip d of rubber are placed on the belt 101 as shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings, so that when the belt is brought to the position shown in FIG. l2 and rotation is imparted to the form 4 by means of the motor 6, the fabric and rubber will be wound on the cylindrical form 4 to form a laminated tube.

As shown in FIG. l5 and 16, the fabric plies b and the outer rubber sheets c are wider than the tube a, so that the projecting end of the laminated tube has a stepped inner face. The stepped formation of the projecting tube end facilitates the crimping of the end to a diameter less than that of form 4 as shown at e in FIG. 17, so that the tube is provided with a shoulder f overlying the end of the form 4. Since the rubber is uncured it can be readily compressed beyond its elastic limit and to a smaller diameter by manually applied pressure.

After the laminated tube has been built on the form 4 and its end crimped inwardly as shown in FIG. 17, the turret 7 is indexed to bring the bead placing unit 13 into axial alinement with the form 4 and the slide 9 is advanced to bring the unit 13 into operative position with respect to the building form. As best shown in FIG. 18, the unit 13 comprises a bead ring carrier 104 that is detachably secured to the turret plate 11 by means of bolts S and that supports a small bead ring g. A tubular carrier 106 for a larger bead ring h is detachably secured to the carrier 104 by means of bolts 107. The bead ring carrier 104 has an axial bore 10S of a diameter to receive the head 84 of the piston extension 76 and a counterbore 109 of a diameter to receive the compressed end e of the laminated tube. The plate 11 has an aperture 110 positioned to receive an axial pilot extension 111 of the head 84, the opening 110 being provided with a tapering seat 112 to receive a tapering shoulder 113 at the inner end of the pilot 111.

The carrier 104 has a tubular extension 114 that is provided with axial slots 115 which are equiangularly spaced to provide arcuate segments 116 of greater width than the slots. Spring lingers 117 are positioned in the slots 115 and project a short distance beyond the ends of the arcuate sections 116, the resilient fingers 117 having concave bead ring engaging seats 118 at their outer ends. The spring fingers 117 hold the Small bead ring g in engagement with interiorly beveled end edges 119 of the segments 116. The rigid segments 116 serve to press the bead ring g against the shoulder f of the tube on the form 4 and to hold the bead ring in place while the contracted end e of the tube is expanded against the interior of the ring g. The tubular carrier 106 is provided with an opening 106:1 which affords access to the ring carrier 104 for placing the ring g on the supporting fingers 117.

A bead carrier ring 120 is slidably adjustable within the inner end of the carrier sleeve 106, the ring 120 being adjustably secured to the sleeve 106 by bolts 121 screwed into the ring and extending through longitudinal slots 122 in the sleeve 106. Resilient fingers 123 projecting from the ring 120 and provided with ring engaging seats 124 at their outer ends provide support for a bead ring h o c1 of a diameter greater than that of the bead ring g, the ring being provided with thrust fingers 12S intermediate the supporting lingers `123 which have interiorly beveled faces 126 for engagement with the bead ring lz.

With the bead rings supported as shown in FIG. lil, air under pressure is admitted to the interior of the air bag 52 through the conduit 49, the sleeve 46 and hollow shaft S, expanding the laminated tube against the interior of the bead ring l1 while the bead ring is held against axial movement by the thrust fingers 125, as shown in FIG. 25, and also expanding the portion of the tube between the ring h and the adjacent end of the tube to a diameter greater than that of the ring h.

While the bead placing unit 13 is held in the position shown in FIG. 25, the bag confining sleeve 64 is moved axially toward the bead ring l1 to increase the radial outward thrust of the air bag 52 on the tube end and to force the air bag over the bead ring as shown in FIG. 26 to cuff the end of the tube over the bead ring lz and the exterior face of the tube adjacent the bead ring h so that the ring lz is held against displacement. The turret slide is then retracted to withdraw the thrust fingers and bead ring supporting fingers 123 and the radial inward pressure exerted by the air bag 52 forces the cuffed end of the tube inwardly against the exterior of the tube as shown in FIG. 27 of the drawings.

Before the turret is retracted to withdraw the bead car rier unit pressure is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 30 to force the tubular extension 76 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8 and air under pressure is admitted to the air bag '78 through the conduit 39, passage 42 and the tubular piston rod 32 to the extension 76, air being delivered to the interior of the air bag through suitable openings in the tube 76. Air pressure within the bag 78 lirst expands the reduced end of the tube against the interior of the bead ring g and, when the bead carrier 104 is withdrawn, the air bag 78 is expanded, as shown in FIG. 28, to stretch the end of the tube to a diameter greater than that of the ring g, so as to hold the ring g against displacement. The turret is again indexed to bring the unit 14 into axial alinement with the form 4 and is advanced to engage the unit 14 with thc air bag 78, as shown in FIG. 29 of the drawings. The unit 14 comprises a cup-shaped attaching member 127 secured to the turret plate 11 by means of bolts 128, the attaching member 127 having a bore 129 to receive the pilot 111 and the plate 11 having an opening 130 that registers with the bore 129. The attaching member 127 has a counterbore 131 that receives the cylindrical inner end 132 of an air bag confining cone 133, the cone being cup-shaped and adjustably and detachably mounted in the member 127 by means of one or more set screws 134. Movement of the turret slide 9 toward the form 4 causes the cone 133 to press the expanded air bag 78 toward the form, thereby increasing the radial outward thrust on the tube end and finally culling the tube end over the bead ring g into engagement with the exterior of the tube as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 of the drawings.

The head 29 and building form 4 are detachably connected to the inner end of the tubular shaft 5 so that they can be quickly and easily detached from the shaft and replaced with heads and forms of different lengths and diameters. Each of the units 12, 13 and 14 on the turret 7 is readily detachable and replaceable with a unit of a size suitable for the particular air spring bellows that is to be built. In some instances it is desirable to apply the small bead ring first and for this reason the bead ring carrier 106 is detachably connected to the carrier 104 so that it can be omitted when desired and a suitable carrier for the outer bead ring may be provided in connection with the unit 14 as shown in FIGS. 4l and 42 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 32 of the drawings, valves 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140 operated by solenoids 141, 142, 143, 144 and 145 control the supply of pressure to the conduits 39, 40 and 41 delivering to the air bag 78 and the opposite ends of the cylinder 30, the conduit 49 delivering to the air bag 52 and the conduit 100 delivering to the air bag 96. The valves 136, 137, 138, 139 and 14@ normally connect the pressure supply conduits to exhaust and, when actuated by their solenoids, connect them to the pressure line 135 so that the air bags 73 and 96 and the cylinder 30 are normally not subjected to pressure. Suitable means which may include timing relays together with manual or trip controlled switches, may control the valve actuating solenoids. Pressure is supplied to the cylinder 72 by conduits 147 and 148; to the cylinder 27 by conduits 149 and 150 and to the cylinders and 22 by conduits 151 and 152. Valves 153, l154 and 155 which may be of identical construction, control the supply of pressure to the cylinders 72, 27 and 20 and 22, these valves being actuated by solenoids 156,157 and 158. The piston of cylinder '72 is normally held in a position to retain the cuffing sleeve 61 in retracted position. The cylinder 27 normally holds the slide 9 in retracted position. Pressure is normally applied to the cylinder 22 to hold the locking pin 21 in locking position and pressure is normally applied to the cylinder 2G to hold the rack 18 in its uppermost position. The valve 153 normally supplies pressure to the conduit 148, the valve 154 normally supplies pressure to the conduit 149 and the valve 155 normally supplies pressure to the conduit I152. The valves 153, 154 and 155 are actuated by solenoids 156, 157 and 158 which, when energized, move the valves 153, 154 and 155 to a position reversing the pressure in the cylinders 72 and 27 and also in the cylinders 20 and 22. The solenoids 156 and 157 may be energized by means of manually operated switches and the solenoid 158 is energized by means of a trip switch 25.

in its normal position the valve 155v connects the conduit 152 to the pressure line 135 and the conduit 152 is connected to the lower end of the cylinder 20 and to the outer end of the cylinder 22 to press the locking pin 21 toward locking position. When the solenoid 158 is energized the conduit 152 is connected to exhaust and the conduit 151 is connected to pressure, forcing the piston of the cylinder 22 in a direction to cause the pin 21 to be retracted from the turret plate 11 and to actuate a valve 159 having an arm 160 in the path of the pin 21 to connect the upper end of the cylinder 20 with the conduit 151 through a passage 161 in the valve `159 to operate the rack 1S and impart aturning movement to the turret. The energization of the solenoid 158 may be effected by means of a push button and a relay which hold it closed during the indexing movement of the turret, and denergization of the solenoid 158 may be effected by means of the trip switch 25.

It is desirable that the air bag l52 be subjected to high pressure only during the initial fabric turn up operation and that a lower pressure be utilized during the roll over or curling operation. Air under full line pressure is delivered to the bag 52 through the valve 139 upon energization of the solenoid 144 and, in order to supply air to the bag 52 at a lower pressure, the conduit 49 is connected to pressure line 135 through a second valve 139e operated by a solenoid 144a and an adjustable reducing valve 139b interposed between the valve 139e and the pressure line 135. When both the solenoids 144 and 144a are deenergized the conduit 49 is connected to the atmosphere through the two Valves 139 and 139e as shown in FIG. 32. When the solenoid 144e is energized the conduit '49 is connected to the pressure `line 135 through the reducing valve 139b and the valves 139e and 139. To switch the pressure in the air bag 52 from high to low, the solenoid 144 is deenergized and the solenoid 144e is energized to connect the conduit 49 to the pressure line 135 through the reducing valve 13%. In order to permit air to escape from the bag 52 to effect a reduction in pressure, an adjustable pressure relief valve 139C is provided between fully extended position as shown in FIG. 28.

the valves 139 and `139:1 which is set to open at a pressure but slightly greater than the pressure for which the reducing valve 139b is set.

In order to regulate the pressure supplied to the air bag 78, a reducing valve 136:1 may be provided between the valve 136 and the pressure line 135.

In building an air spring bellows the turret 7 is tirst positioned with the tube carrier 12 in axial alinement with the building form 4, with a tube a on the carrier unit y1;". and with bead rings g and hpositioned on the carriers 164 and 106 of the unit 13. The valve 154 is then actuatedto operate the cylinder 27 to advance the turret toward the building form 4 to position the tube a for transfer onto the building `form 4. After the tube a has been transferred to the form 4, the solenoid 158 is energized to actuate the cylinder 22 to release the locking pin' 21 and actuate the valve 159 to impart the indexing stroke to the piston 19 and rack 1S, the solenoid remaining energized until the holding circuit is broken by the trip switch 25, whereupon the pin 21 is moved to locking position and the cylinder 20 is operated to move Vthe rack 1S to its uppermost position. This brings the bead placing unit into axial alinement with the form 4 and the valve i154 is again actuated to advance the turret to position theunit 13 as shown in FIG. 18. The valve 139 is then actuated to supply pressure to the air bag 52. The valve 137 is actuated to supply pressure to the piston ."rllrtoA advance the air bag carrying extension 76 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 18; Thevalve 136 is operated to admit pressure to the air bag 7S to expand the tube against the bead ring g. The pressure in the air bag 52v is then reduced by energizing the solenoids 144e and deenergizing the solenoid 144 to connect the line 49 to the pressure line through the reducing valve 139b and to the relief valve 139e. The valve 153 is then actuatedV to reverse the pressure to the cylinder 72 and to advance the culling sleeve 61 to culic the tube over the large bead ring h as shown in FIG. 26. Pressure in the cylinder 27 is then reversed to retract the turret 7V and disengage the carrier unit from the bead rings g and h, permitting the air bag carrying extension 76 to be moved by the piston 51 to its The indexing operation is then repeated to bring the cutting unit 14 into alinement with the building form, after which the cylinder 27 is again actuated to move the turret toward the building form 4 to engage the air bag confining cone 133 with the air bag 78 as shown in FIG.` 29, and to force the air bag 78 over the exterior of the form 4 to cuff the end of the tube over the bead ring g as shown in FIGS. 3() and 3l. The turret is then retracted and the -finished bellows blank B shown in FIG. 33 can be removed endwise from the form 4. The blank B has enlarged beaded ends C and D and a rib E intermediate its ends. This blank is then placed in a vulcanizing mold and expanded and vulcanized to the form shown in FIG. v34, the expanding and vulcanizing` operations corresponding to those employed in the manufacture of pneumatic air casings.

As shown in FIG. 34, the bellows has a substantially cylindrical 'body portion 162, provided with a circumferential rib 163, a small opening 164 -at one end thatl is reinforced bythe bead ring g and a large opening 165 at its opposite end that is reinforced by the bead ringh. The cylindrical portion 162 of the bellows is mounted Within a confining band 166 that is held in place on the bellows by therib 163. is attached to a plate 167 and the lower end to a piston 168 which provides an auxiliary air chamber. The plate 167r and the piston 168 `are attached to the members whose relative movements are to be controlled by the spring.

'p The tube building, bead applying, tube expanding and culng elements carried by the shafts 5 and 8 are detachably mounted and replaceable by `other elements to adapt' The upper end of the bellows 1l the machine for building air spring bellows of various sizes and shape. FIGS. 37 to 42 show the method of building an air spring bellows that differs considerably in size and shape from that above described.

FEGS. 37 and 38 show a tube that has been built on the form 4 which differs from the tube previously described in that the fabric plies b1 are considerably longer than the inner and outer rubber plies a1 and c1. The tube is built with its inner end projecting beyond the inner end of the building form and, as shown in FIG. 39, its projecting end is crimped over the end of the form to provide an end portion e1 of reduced diameter and a shoulder portion f1 overlying the end of the form 4. Bead rings g1 and h1 differ much more in diameter than the bead rings of the bellows first described, making it necessary to expand the body of the laminated tube to a much greater extent than was required for the bead ring l1. Because of this greater expansion of the laminated tube, it is desirable that the small bead ring g1 be applied beiore the large bead ring 111 is positioned around the tube. For this reason the bead placing unit 13a has a carrier 104e for the ring g1 and the inner air bag is advanced into the carrier 104e and expanded to tix the bead ring g1 in position, after which the turret is retracted and indexed to bring the air bag conning cone 133.11 into axial alinement with the building form so that the cutting operation over the small bead g1 may be completed. The air bag confining cone l33a carries a bead ring supporting sleeve ltla that is provided with supporting lingers 123e for the bead ring h1 and thrust fingers 125e for holding the ring h1 against axial movement. After the unit 14a has been advanced to cuff the tube end over the small bead ring g1, the air bag 52 is inflated to expand the tube against the interior of the sleeve 106:1 and against the interior of the ring h, and to expand the outer end of the tube to a diameter greater than the ring h1 as shown in FIG. 42.

Actuation of a cuftiing sleeve corresponding to the sleeve 6i previously described completes the cuing of the tube over the large bead ring h1. The blank so formed is then expanded and vulcanized in a suitable mold.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specic devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. The herein described method of building a laminated rubber and fabric annulus with end openings surrounded by inextensible beads which comprises building a laminated rubber and fabric tube and supporting the i same on a substantially cylindrical form, supporting a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said tube independently of the form and tube and moving the same axially over a tube on said form to a position surrounding said form and an end portion of said tube on said form, applying a radial outward pressure to the interior of said end portion of the tube throughout its circumference to expand the same said end portion to a diameter greater than that of the remainder of the tube and against the interior of said ring, expanding the tube end to a diameter greater than that of said ring, holding said ring and tube against endwise movement with respect to said form, -applying an axial thrust to the expanded tube end to cuff the same over said bead ring, applying a radial inward pressure simultaneously throughout the circumference to the turned back portion of the tube end while the ring is held against axial movement to contract the same to an internal diameter less than the external diameter of the ring and into engagement with the exterior face of the tube by radial inward pressure.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the expanding and contracting of the tube end is effected by fluid under pressure applied throughout the circumference thereof.

3. The herein described method of building a laminated rubber and fabric annulus with end openings of ditferent diameter surrounded by inextcnsible beads which comprises building a laminated rubber and fabric tube and supporting said tube on a generally cylindrical form and positioning the tube on said form with an end projecting past an end of the form, compressing said projecting end portion of the tube to a diameter less than that of the form, holding a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said projecting portion and less than the external diameter of Said form against the portion of said tube overlying the end of the form, simultaneously supporting a second bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said tube independently of said tube and form in a position surrounding. the opposite end portion of the tube on the form, expanding said opposite end portion of the tube to a diameter greater than the remainder of the tube and against the interior of said second ring and the tube end adjacent thereto to a diameter greater than that of the ring, cutting the expanded end of said tube over said second ring while holding the ring against movement, expanding the compressed end of said tube to a diameter greater than that of said first ring while holding said first ring against the form shoulder, and culling the expanded end over said rirst ring.

4. A machine for building an air spring bellows or the like comprising a building form that is supported at one end for rotation about its axis to receive successive plies of rubber and fabric which form a laminated tube, a bead having means for supporting a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of a laminated tube built upon said form in axial alinement with the form, means for moving said support to move said ring axially over the free end of the form to a position surrounding the end portion of said tube remote from said free end and for holding said ring in said position against axial movement toward the free end of said form, means carried by said form for applying a radial outward thrust to the end portion of said tube surrounded by said ring throughout its circumference to expand said end portion of the tube to a diameter greater than that of the remainder of the tube and against the interior of said ring and to expand the end portion of the tube projecting past said ring to a diameter greater than that of the ring, means for applying an axial thrust to the expanded tube end toward said ring to culi said tube end over said ring and to apply a radial inward thrust on said culfed tube end throughout its circumference to contract the same toward the exterior face of said tube to grip said ring, and means for withdrawing said bead holding means to permit said cuffed end to be contracted into contact with the exterior face of said tube inwardly of the bead ring.

5. A machine such as claimed in claim 4, in which means is provided for engaging the end of the laminated tube adjacent the free end of the-form to resist axial movement of the tube on said form while axial thrust is applied to the expanded end of the tube.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a building form of generally cylindrical form upon which superposed plies of rubber and fabric may be placed to form a laminated tube, an elastic rubber air bag forming the external face of the portion of the form adjacent its supported end, means for supporting a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said tube and for moving said ring axially over the free end of said form to a position surrounding said tube and air bag adjacent the end of said tube remote from said free end, means for inating said air bag to expand said end of the tube to a diameter greater than the remainder of the tube and against the interior of said bead ring and to expand the end of said tube adjacent said ring to a diameter greater' than that of said ring, an axially movable air bag engaging annulus engageable with said air bag to press the same toward said end of saidY tube to increase the expanding pressure on the tube end and to force the expanded air bag axially over said bead ring to cuff said tube end over the bead ring.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a building form of generally cylindrical form upon which superposed plies of rubber and fabric may be placed to form a laminated tube, an elastic rubber air bag forming the external face of the portion of the form adjacent its supported end, an elongated annulus of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said tube and Isupported for axial movement over the free end of said tube, means carried by `said annulus at the end thereof toward the supported end of the form for supporting a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said tube, means for inating the air bag to expand the end portion of the tube to a diameter greater than the remainder of the tube and against the interior of said bead -ring and the interior of said annulus and for expanding the portion of the air bag beyond the end of the tube to a diameter greater than that of said ring, and means for moving said portion of the air bag axially over said bead ring to culi? the tube end over said ring.

8. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber and provided with inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical form upon which superposed plies of rubber and fabric may be laid to form the tube, said form having a rigid cylindrical core and an external face formed by an elastic rubber air bag attached at one end to said core and tightly fitting the exterior thereof, an axially movable carrier having means for supporting a bead ring of an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the tube and for positioning the same around the end portion of a tube on said air bag that is remote from the attached end of said bag, means for admitting iiuid under pressure to the interior of said air bag to expand the tube against the interior of said bead ring and to expand the portion of the `bag beyond said end portion of said tube to a diameter greater than that of said ring, and means for pressing said portion of the air bag axially over the exterior of said bead ring supported by said carrier to cuff the tube end over the bead ring.

9. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber and provided with inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical form upon which superposed plies of rubber and fabric may be laid to form the tube, said form having a rigid cylindrical core and an external face formed by an elastic rubber air bag attached at one end to said core and tightly fitting the exterior thereof, means for positioning a a bead ring around the end portion of a tube on said air bag that is remote from the attached end of said bag, means for admitting uid under pressure to the interior of said air bag to expand the tube against the interior of said bead ring and to expand the portion of the bag beyond said end portion of said tube to a diameter greater than that of said ring, means for pressing said portion of the air bag axially over the exterior of said bead ring to e cu the tube end over the bead ring, a second normally cylindrical elastic rubber air bag of a diameter less than that of said first mentioned bag, means for supporting said second bag in a position projecting past the end of said tubular core to which said iirst bag is attached and extending into the adjacent end of said tube, means for positioning a second bead ring .around said tube and second air bag, means for inating said lsecond bag to expand the tube against the interior or said second ring and for forcing a portion of the iniiated tube over said second bead ring to cuff the tube over said bead ring.

l0. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber and forming inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a supporting shaft, a generally cylindrical form coaxial with said shaft carried by said Y. ,14 Y j shaft at an end thereof and rotatable with said shaft, a turret axially spaced from said shaft and form and mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to that of said shaft and laterally offset with respect thereto, tube ex-l panding means carried by said form, angularly spaced auxiliary tube building units mounted on said turret and positioned for movement successively into axial alinement with said form upon rotation of said turret, means forVV indexing said turret to successively position said units in alinement with said form, and means for moving saidl turret axially toward and away from said form to move said units into and out of their operative positions with respect to said form.

11. A machine for -building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber and forming inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a supporting shaft, a generally cylindrical form coaxial with said shaft carried by said shaft at an end thereof and rotatable with said shaft, a turret axially spaced from said shaft and form and mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to that of said shaft and laterally offset with respect thereto, tube expanding means carried by said form, a band supporting unit, a bead supporting and positioning unit and a tube culling unit mounted on said turret in angularly spaced relation and positioned to successively aline with said form upon rotation of said turret, means for indexing said turret to successively position said units in alinement with said form, and means for moving said turret axially toward and away from said form Vto move said units into and out of -their operative positions With respect to said form. i

l2. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber having an inextensible bead ring reinforced end comprising a horizontal supporting shaft having a supporting head at one end, a substantially cylindrical form carried by said head, projecting from said head and of smaller diameter than said head, said form comprising a rigid tubular member and an elongated elastic rubber airbag attached at one end to said tubular member and forming a close fitting cover for said tubular.

member throughout the major portionof its length, the opposite end of `said air bag being of larger diameter than the portion thereof on said tubular member and attached K to said head, means for supporting a bead ring in a positionsurrounding said form adjacent its supported end and for holding said ring against axial movement away .from said head, means for inflating said air bag to expand 1t within said ring, and a cufling sleeve axially slidable on said head andsengageable with the enlarged end of the4 inflated air bag to fold it axially over said bead ring.

13. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber having an inextensible bead ring reinforced end comprising a horizontal supporting shaft having a supporting head at one end, a substantially cylindrical form carried by said head, projecting from said head and of smaller diameter than said head, said form comprising a rigid tubular member and an elongated elastic rubber air bag attached at one end to said tubular member and forming a close fitting cover for said tubular member throughout the major portion of its length, the opposite end of said air bag being of larger diameter than the portion thereof on said tubular member and attached to said head, an annular bead ring holder movable axially over the free end of said form to a position Where the bead ring surrounds said form adjacent its supported end, means for inflating said air bag to expand it within said ring, and an axially movable cuiing sleeve coaxial with said form and engageable with the inflated airY bag radially outwardly of said bead ring to fold it axially over said bead ring.

14. A machine for `building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber having inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a rotatable supporting shaft hav ing a head attached to one end thereof, a rigid tubular member coaxial with said shaft, supported at one end by said-head and projecting therefrom,Y an intlatable air bag having an elongated normally cylindrical portion iitting upon said tubular member, attached to said tubular member adjacent its free end and having an enlarged end attached to said head, a second air bag telescopically received within said tubular member, means for moving said second air bag from a position entirely within said tubular member to a position projecting past the free end of said tubular member, means for supporting bead rings, one surrounding the first mentioned air bag adjacent said head and the other surrounding said second air bag beyond the free end of said tubular member, means for inating said air bags, and means for folding each of said air ybags axially over the bead ring surrounding it.

15. A machine for building a laminated tube of fabric and uncured rubber having inextensible bead ring reinforced ends comprising a rotatable supporting shaft, a building form comprising a head attached to one end thereof to rotate therewith, a rigid cylindrical member Vof less diameter than said head, supported at one end by said head and coaxial with said shaft, an inflatable air baghaving an elongated portion that closely tits upon the exterior of said cylindical member and an enlarged end portion, the opposite endsofsaid air bag being attached to said head and tosaid cylindrical member, a second air bag normally ofan external diameter.' less than that of said cylindrical member and means for:

for wrapping a contracted end portion of a tube having superposed plies of fabric -bound together by uncured rubber about an inextensible bead ring comprising a form having a cylindrical periphery and an annular shoulder at one end inwardly of said periphery and adjacent l thereto, said tube fitting upon said form with its consupporting said second airbag in a position coaxialwith" said cylindrical memberl'and projecting from tlierfreeV end thereof, a turret axially spaced from the freeend of s'aid form and mounted for rotation abouti a'n axis parallel toV that of said ,shaft and laterally. offset with respect thereto, a bead holding unit' mounted on said turret in a position-to axially aline with said cylindrical member in one angular position ouf'the turret, a bag engaging unit angularly spaced -from said rst mentioned unit and positioned to aline with said cylindrical member in another angular position of said turret, `means for inating said air bags, means for moving said turret axially toward and awayl from saidV cylindrical member,

and anannular air bag engaging member mounted AforV axial ,movementz on Vsaid head.

16. `A machine such as set forth inclair 1', in which said form is detachably connectedrto said shaft and said `units are detachably connected to said turret, whereby tubes of dilerent lengths, diameters and shapes may be built.

17. In a machine of the character described, means tracted end portion adjacent to and beyond said shoulder, means for moving a bead ring axially over the contracted end 'of said tube and pressing the same axially against the portion of the tube overlying said shoulder, an intiatable air bag having a normally cylindrical ex terior face of a diameter to be received within the portion of the tube within the bead ring, means for supporting said air bag coaxially with respect to the form and within said bead ring and within the contracted end portion of said tube, means for inating said bag to press the contracted end portion of the tube against the in terior of said bead ring and to stretch the same outwardly of the bead ring to a diameter greater than the bead ring to hold the bead ring against displacement, and means for applying pressure axially to the expanded air bag to press the same toward said end of the form to press the expanded end of the tube against the bead ring and fold it over the ring and against the portion of the tube on said form comprising an annular cupshaped member coaxial with said form and mounted for axial movement toward and away from said shoulder with its open end facing said shoulder, said member having an outer tubular portion of greater diameter than said `tform for conning the portion of said air bag forced to a position surrounding the end of the form and limiting the expansion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,541 Denmire July 17, 1934 2,251,904 Breth et al. Aug. l2, 1941 2,340,267 Haase Jan. 25, 1944 .2,440,662 Frazier Apr. 27, 1948 2,614,952 Kraft Oct. 2l, 1952 2,671,495 Iredell et al. Mar. 9, 1954 2,715,931 Frazier Aug. 23, 1955 2,716,437 Wikle Aug. 30, 1955 2,742,301 Pointer Apr. 17,1956 2,756,048 Pfeiffer et al. July 24, 1956 2,818,907 Sapp Ian. 7, 1958 2,971,875 Deist Feb. 14, 1961 2,998,049 Winslow e Aug. 29, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,061,499 October 30, 1962 Charles O. Slemmons et .alo

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the seid Letters Patent should read es corrected below.

Column l2, line 3l, for "bead having" read bead support having Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. THE HEREIN DESCRIBED METHOD OF BUILDING A LAMINATED RUBBER AND FABRIC ANNULUS WITH END OPENINGS SURROUNDED BY INEXTENSIBLE BEADS WHICH COMPRISES BUILDING A LAMINATED RUBBER AND FABRIC TUBE AND SUPPORTING THE SAME ON A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL FORM, SUPPORTING A BEAD RING OF AN INTERNAL DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID TUBE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FORM AND TUBE AND MOVING THE SAME AXIALLY OVER A TUBE ON SAID FORM TO A POSITION SURROUNDING SAID FROM AND AN END PORTION OF SAID TUBE ON SAID FORM, APPLYING A RADIAL OUTWARD PRESSURE TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID END PORTION OF THE TUBE THROUGHOUT ITS CIRCUMFERENCE TO EXPAND THE SAME SAID END PORTION TO A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE TUBE AND AGAINST THE INTERIOR OF SAID RING, EXPANDING THE TUBE END TO A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID RING, HOLDING SAID RING AND TUBE AGAINST ENDWISE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FORM, APPLYING AN AXIAL THRUST TO THE EXPANDED TUBE END TO CUFF THE SAME OVER SAID BEAD RING, APPLYING A RADIAL INWARD PRESSURE SIMULTANEOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE TO THE TURNED BACK PORTION OF THE TUBE END WHILE THE RING IS HELD AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT TO CONTRACT THE SAME TO AN INTERNAL DIAMETER LESS THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE RING AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EXTERIOR FACE OF THE TUBE BY RADIAL INWARD PRESSURE. 